After Alyssa Burkett was murdered, detectives soon learned that the prime suspect was the father of her child, Andrew Beard. But as the investigation continued, they learned that Beard was not the only one involved in the murder plot.
Take a look at the research.
October 2, 2020 | 9:00 am
Carrollton Police
Shortly after 24 year old Alyssa Burkett As she pulled into her parking spot at work in Carrollton, Texas, a man with a gun shot her in the head through the window of her car and fled.
Carrollton Police
Burkett survived the explosion, got out of her car and tried to get help. Her bloody hand left an imprint on the office window.
The attacker saw Burkett running and chased her. He stabbed Alyssa 44 times and left the scene in his black SUV.
Lizatte Bowers/Alyssa Burkett, Facebook
When Burkett’s mother, Teresa Collard, arrived on the scene, she immediately gave detectives a name: Andrew Beard. Beard was the father of Burkett’s 1-year-old child, Willow.
October 2, 2020 | 12:00 noon
Carrollton Police
Hours after the murder, police officers stopped Beard in his white Ford F-150 pickup. His fiancée, Holly Elkins, and baby Willow were with him. Beard was told he could leave the scene but could not return home. Officers also seized his pickup.
October 2, 2020 | 9 p.m
Carrollton Police
Later that evening, police searched Beard’s home and found a GPS tracker battery and charging stations that matched a tracking device detectives had discovered under Burkett’s car earlier that day.
Carrollton Police
Investigators also discovered what they believe was an unregistered gun silencer.
October 3, 2020 | 12:00 noon
Carrollton Police
The next day, detectives searched Beard’s white F-150 pickup and found a backpack. Inside, they discovered two bottles of dark brown makeup and a pair of men’s hiking boots that had been cut up and soaking in bleach.
October 3, 2020
Carrollton Police
Later that evening, police found the black Ford SUV the attacker drove to the scene. It was found abandoned less than a mile from Beard’s home.
Carrolton Police
When detectives searched the SUV, they found a fake beard smeared with dark brown makeup.
October 5, 2020
Carrolton Police
When Beard learned there was a warrant for his arrest, he turned himself in to the Carrollton Police Department. He was charged with murder.
October 6, 2020
Beard’s fiancée, Holly Elkins, volunteered to speak with detectives from the Carrollton Police Department.
Carrolton Police
During the interview, Elkins told investigators that Beard was at her home the morning of the murder. She also described herself as a “stage 5 clinger girlfriend,” and said she would have known if Beard had left the house that morning.
October 6, 2020 | 1:30 p.m
Carrollton Police
After her interview, investigators said Elkins conducted the following Internet searches:
“Can’t I be taken to court if I have a psychiatrist’s note?”
‘vulnerable patients to court’
“Contact a Psychiatrist in Dallas”
“Can’t I be summoned to jail if I have a mental problem?”
October 29, 2020
Beard spent two weeks behind bars before being released on bail. Carrollton Police Officer. Jeremy Chevallier said he was concerned about baby Willow’s safety, so he contacted the federal government to bring the case under federal firearms laws.
Because detectives found an unregistered silencer during the search of Beard’s home, the federal government agreed to take the case.
Carrollton Police
Eight days after breaking free, Beard was arrested again and ultimately charged with cyberstalking with a dangerous weapon causing death.
July 15, 2022
In June 2022, Beard pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and use of a dangerous weapon causing death.
FBI
A month later, he spoke to the FBI as part of a plea deal. And he had a lot to say about Elkins’ involvement in Burkett’s murder.
“…It was… ‘this is how you’re going to do this,’ it was, ‘… you’re going to wear this dark makeup…’ That was her plan… this is how it’s going to happen, Beard told the FBI.
May 24, 2023
Beard was sentenced to 43 years in prison.
June 21, 2023
After speaking with Beard, the FBI spent about a year building a case against Elkins.
Investigators found internet searches and a receipt from Walgreens linking her to the crime.
Carrollton Police
They also examined text messages between Elkins and Beard. In a text message sent to Beard a week before Burkett’s murder, Elkins wrote: “I hope you handle it. I’m not coming home to fuck”
Elkins was indicted on three counts: conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury and death, and brandishing a firearm in connection with a violent crime.
July 6, 2023
Johnson County Sheriff’s Office
Elkins was arrested by federal agents at Miami airport after returning from a trip to the Dominican Republic.
April 9 – 16, 2024
Lizette Bowers
Elkins’ trial began at the federal courthouse in downtown Dallas. After six days the case went to the jury.
April 17, 2024
Stephen Green
The jury deliberated for about an hour and a half before finding Elkins guilty on all counts. On August 15, 2024, Elkins was sentenced to two life sentences.
